The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-05-21

w Gil, We got lDto active service uy
and by. We were in the thickesi Of
the fight at Gaines Mill, and the CO 81.
ness of that boy officer, with old i;,l-
diers falling around him like dad
leaves, was the marvel of the regiment.
Our regiment was with the others of
the command that subsequently col
lected at and about White Oak swamp,
and aimless and confused mass of sol
diers, SO ignorant were we all then of
the geography of that region and Of
the rebel movements or designs. The
first night we camped az White Oak
swamp Lieut.. O'kane and myself lay
smoking in our tent, and he once more
began on the matter of the executor.
ship. He said enough 20 assure me
that IL only needed word from me
TO learn his life mystery, but fool
ishly treated his manner lightly, and
while was chatting him.on his gloomy
forebodings there came an order from
the captain directing me TO pick force
OF twenty-five or thirty trusty men
and make reconnaissance beyond the
lines, as there were suspicious of rebels
lurking In the vicinity on our right
flank, the truth of which IL was inn
portant 10 know, as we were all at sea
in regard TO the surroundings. Lieut..
O'kane at once requested TO be one OF
the party, and consented. The men
were picked, and we started TO carry
out our orders.
lit was early on beautiful moon
light night. We had not gone far
when two shots in quick succession
rang out on the air, and the bullets
whizzed over our heads. Two other
shots followed these presently, and we
halted 10 consult on the best course TO
pursue, when ! heard another shot.
The sound never reached poor I.arry's
ears, for the bullet passed through his
heart He threw up his hands and
fell dead where he stood. The moon
shown full on his face, on which there
was as sweet u smile rs ever rested on
human lips. Whatever the young
lrishman's life troubles had been,
they had evidently found a welcome
ending We buried our dear comrade
where he fell, Ia duty we seldom had
time TO perform for others in the days
that were coming, and while this was
being done part of my command
skirmished about and captured three
marauders. There were no other rebels
in the vicinity, and the nights deadly
work had been theirs. They never
marauded more.
"The death of the gallant O'Kane
greatly depressed us ALL AS soon as |
could bring myself TO do it, / made an
examination Of his effects. l found a
large paper package. On the outside
OF II was note addressed TO me. 1t
was in O'Kane's peculiar square and
characteristic chirography, and was a
document appointing me his sole exec
utor. | found "A Catholic prayer book |
that bad belonged TO him. On the fly |
leaf was written From Sister To-
The name that followed had been cut |
out. There was nothing anywhere TO
indicate who the young Irishman was,
or whether he had any friends. con
cluded not to open the envelopes in the |
package until | could obtain legal adj |
vice. forwarded it TO the then pro- |
prIetor Of the Metropolitan hotel, in
New York, who was an old and conf !
dental friend Of mine. Iobtained leave /
Of absence a few weeks later went TO
New York, and consulted lawyer
well known TO me then, and well known
to the nation to-day. Together we
opened the dead lieutenant's package,
and imagine my surprise TO find evil
dence that he was the owner Of prop
erty in ST. Louis and Chicago worth at
that time not less than $4,000. Then
the folly of my not favoring O'Kane
when he Enthusiastically wanted 90 tell
me his history on the night he was kill
ed, became apparent TO me. Here was
a fortune that by right belonged 10
some one TO whom he intended il should
60, and no clew To his or her identity.
My lawyer assured me that | could
claim and possess the property rs exec.
utor, but refused TO do so. placed
the paper in the hands of the British
consul in New York, with instructions
TO him TO use every dollar of the in
come Of the property in efforts to find
out who the young Irishman was.
did not think OF applying TO the Catho-
lie authorities, who might have had
come knowledge OF the dead mans
history. The papers were deposited in
the vaults of the Metropolitan safe De
post company, and | returned TO my
regiment.
"In the exciting times that followed
| had but little opportunity 90 follow
MP the O'Kane mystery, and after the
war | was sent out 90 Fort Psmbina, ,